So although I thought my last blog post would be my final one, since writing it a few months have passed and I just wanted to actually write a ‘final’ post – to really sum up where I am.
Well, where I am is still in Dubai. I am reaching the end, next week in fact, of my 3 month contract with the family and I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with them. Adnan and Shruti are two of the kindest, warmest people I have ever met and I’ve been made to feel very welcome since arriving here 3 months ago. Yaser and Moayad, the two boys I have been teaching, have been a joy to be around. I am really pleased and slightly staggered at their progress – I am sure it is more down to their natural intelligence rather than my teaching though!
I really will be genuinely upset to leave them but we’ve become friends on social media so I do hope we can stay in touch. And that looks like it will be a lot easier than I first thought as I am staying here, in Dubai. If you read my last post you’ll recall that I mentioned, only in passing, having met a teachers who are working out here at an ex-pat school. Well, I’ve been spending quite a bit of time with a small group of them and have a wonderful and incredibly special lady from the group. Amy is a little younger than me but over a few dinners and drinks we’ve really bonded and the thought of leaving her hasn’t been a pleasant one.
After a few chats Amy actually asked at the ex-pat school if there were any teaching positions available and a part time English position is available. It is actually more of a 1-2-1 type of teaching, mentoring children who might be struggling with English, outside of a classroom environment. It really ties in well with the work I have been doing with Yaser and Moayad so I am really excited about staying, this new challenge and of course, Amy.
So after an 18 month journey I have gone from being at a crossroads, undergoing the TEFL course to moving to Dubai and finding a new career….and a new love. It really has been a whirlwind when I think about it but it has been something that has changed my life immeasurably.